Snubbed by the Arctic Council, we forge ahead on the ice conveyer

I’m standing up here at the top of the world, 89.7 degrees North. It’s -31 degrees Celsius this morning and my fingers are frozen — but my blood is boiling.

Like thieves in the night, the Arctic Council have snuck in and left without meeting us. I am just so disheartened and disappointed that after negotiating with Gustaf Lind and the Arctic Council in good faith to meet them at the very place we’re trying to protect, we woke to find that they have now crept in and out of the North Pole under the cover of the midnight sun.

They literally flew over our heads as we slept and then left without a word.

After meeting yesterday with Artur Chilingarov about how to engage youth on Arctic issues, Gustaf Lind is actively snubbing the very youth trying to protect it.

Gustaf also told me yesterday that the Russian Security Services were interfering with our meeting. Maybe that’s true, I don’t know. But Gustaf Lind is the senior Arctic Council official — he could have made this happen. Instead he either allowed the Russians to dictate the agenda or was simply too afraid to meet with us. This is really upsetting for all of us, and the Arctic Council should be ashamed.

The countries that make up the Arctic Council are leading the resource grab in the frozen North, capitalizing on a crisis of their own creation to drill for more of the oil that caused this crisis. And in the midst of this mad dash, they had an opportunity to pause, to stand with us in this calm and peaceful place and listen to the voices of the young people who care about the Arctic and want to see this precious area protected, not exploited.

We have been struggling to get the pole to meet them and deliver this message on behalf of millions, pushing against a strong southern drift that is keeping us locked on this Arctic treadmill. Knowing that they have come and gone overhead as we press on below is disappointing.

But we are still determined to get there. Your messages of support drive us forward and keep us strong. When you look north, think of us — think northerly winds and warm thoughts. We fight on.

You folks are amazing, and the Arctic Council should really feel ashamed -- perhaps they feel they cannot live up to the challenge to protect the Arct...

You folks are amazing, and the Arctic Council should really feel ashamed -- perhaps they feel they cannot live up to the challenge to protect the Arctic, rather than ravish it. But you live up to that promise every day. More power to you!

Gustaf Lind, you are a disgrace and so are the rest of you on your Arctic Council.

It is difficult in the face of so much (I can't ev...

Gustaf Lind, you are a disgrace and so are the rest of you on your Arctic Council.

It is difficult in the face of so much (I can't even think if a description) to keep trying and moving and taking action against such a wall of continual stupidity and I hate to use the word, evil.

Good for you people on this treadmill expedition much like Sisyphus just going on and on and YES because it is the right thing to do - to protect and care for this beautiful planet as it is attacked by every possible level of human stupidity.

Keep on! The world need more people like you. Changing humanity is a very long journey, but it worth to do it. Anyway, we don't have choice. Consc...

Keep on! The world need more people like you. Changing humanity is a very long journey, but it worth to do it. Anyway, we don't have choice. Conscience is a process without way back, we are or not.
BRAVO to you all!